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More About This Textbook
Overview
The division of the Kurdish people among four modern nation states--Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Iran--and their struggle for national rights have been constant themes of recent Middle East history. The Kurdish lands have been contested territory for many centuries. In this detailed history of the Kurds from the 19th century to the present day, McDowall examines the interplay of old and new aspects of the struggle, the importance of local rivalries within Kurdish society, the enduring authority of certain forms of leadership and the failure of modern states to respond to the challenge of Kurdish nationalism. Drawing extensively on primary sources McDowall's book is useful for all who want a better understanding of the underlying dynamics of the Kurdish question.
Editorial Reviews
From the Publisher
Praise for previous editions:
"...the best single narrative history of the Kurds ... It certainly belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in the Middle East today..."--Washington Post Book World
"...a work of impressive traditional scholarship...an extraordinary account."--New York Times
"...an impressive and important achievement."--New Statesman and Society
"...a superbly readable narrative...a great achievement on many levels."--Christopher Walker
Library Journal
McDowall, a British specialist on Middle Eastern affairs (Palestine and Israel: The Uprising and Beyond, Univ. of California, 1990) and acknowledged expert on the Kurds, has produced a comprehensive, highly detailed history of the Kurds-the first in English of such depth-focusing primarily on the 19th century to the present. Relying extensively on primary sources including those in Arabic, Turkish, and various languages spoken by the Kurds, he gives considerable coverage to the 1918-25 period, when the Kurds lost their one main opportunity for autonomy after the demise of the Ottoman and Qajar empires. Today's ongoing struggle for Kurdish independence stems from the apportioning that took place during that seven-year period after World War I, dividing the Kurds among the newly created nations of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. McDowall focuses on the Kurds in Turkey and Iraq, where they constitute more than 20 percent of the population. He also includes background information on Kurdish society not readily available in English, e.g., on the various Islamic sects to which a minority of the Kurds belong. Each chapter concludes with an extensive source and footnote list. Although unquestionably a valuable and well-written work, because of its scholarly nature it is highly recommended only for academic and specialized Middle East collections.-Ruth K. Baacke, Whatcom Cty. Lib. System, Bellingham, Wash.Booknews
McDowall, who has published one other book on Middle Eastern affairs, depicts here the history of the Kurds from the 19th century to present day, focusing particularly on the Kurds' continuous attempt to achieve rights and ultimately land of their own. He explores the rivalries within Kurdish society and the lack of international support for Kurdish nationalism, while dedicating sections to each of the ethno-national movements in Iraq, Turkey, and Iran. Distributed by Palgrave. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)Product Details
Meet the Author
David McDowall is a specialist on Middle Eastern affairs.
Table of Contents
Maps & Sources
• Acknowledgements
• Foreword
• Introduction: Kurdish Identity and Social Formation
• The Kurds in the Age of Tribe and Empire
• Kurdistan before the Nineteenth Century
• Ottoman Kurdistan, 1800-1850
• Ottoman Kurdistan 1850-1914
• The Qajars and the Kurds
• Revolution, Nationalism and War, 1908-1918
• Incorporating the Kurds
• Redrawing the Map: The Partition of Ottoman Kurdistan
• The Kurds, Britain and Iraq
• Incorporating Turkey's Kurds
• The Kurds under Reza Shah
• Ethno-nationalism in Iran
• Tribe or Ethnicity? The Mahabad Republic
• Iran: Creating a National Movement
• Subjects of the Shi'i Republic
• Ethno-nationalism in Iraq
• The Birth of a Nationalist Movemenr under Hashemite Rule
• The Kurds in Revolutionary Iraq
• The Kurds under the Baath, 1968-1975
• The Road to Genocide, 1975-1988
• Uprising and Self-rule
• Ethno-nationalism in Turley
• The Kurdish National Revival in Turkey, 1946-1979
• The PKK and the Mass Movement
• Afterword: Retrospect and Prospect
• Postcript
• Appendix: The Treaty of Sèvres
• Index